The Guide Always Wants to Run (GL) - Chapter 36

“Come again soon.”

Yu Jing watched Mo Hui leave and asked curiously, “What’s wrong with Miss Mo Hui? She looked so lost. Hasn’t her issue been resolved yet?”

Qin Xiao said nothing. She pulled out the small round ball from her pocket and examined it repeatedly. “Forget her. I can hardly believe it myself.”

“Hmm?”

With a complicated expression, Qin Xiao returned to the Guide’s lounge cradling Hunqiu, turning it over and over again in her hands. No matter how she looked at it, it was still just a ball. She pinched it lightly with her fingers. The doughy thing simply deformed. She said flatly, “Speak.”

The little puffball stayed absolutely still, playing dead…

Qin Xiao poked it again, visibly annoyed. “Weren’t you babbling away just now in front of that young lady? You nearly had her so impressed she wanted to trade her own Quantum beast for you. Talk.”

Scolded so harshly, Hunqiu gave a small roll. After a long moment, it let out a soul-wrenching cry, “Ah~~~~”

Qin Xiao’s forehead twitched. “Say something else.”

The little puffball rolled itself again, this time taking even longer. Just as Qin Xiao’s patience wore thin, it finally squeezed out with all its might, “Oh~~~”

“…”

Qin Xiao gave it a firm pinch. “Are those the only words you know?”

The little ball lay limp in her hand, unmoving. “Squeak~~~”

The extended, trembly note gave Qin Xiao goosebumps. She did not know why, but although she used to find this type of sound from others seductive and alluring, hearing it from this tiny thing just felt… unsettling.

“You absorbed more than half of my energy crystals just to learn to talk. What now? Do I need to feed you the other half for you to transform or something?”

“Squeak squeak.”

“Use words.”

The puffball remained silent…

Finally, after a long time, it let out one hoarse, dying breath of a sound. “Ah~~~~~~ha~~~~~~”

When Qin Xiao returned, she casually mentioned the talking puffball to Yan Ningjin. “But it can only say a few simple words. It can’t string them together.”

Even saying a couple of words seemed to drain the little creature’s life force.

It had not moved since.

Qin Xiao did not notice Yan Ningjin’s stunned expression. She was still counting the credit points in her account. In just a few days, she had earned close to eighty thousand.

And for all of this, she had to thank those silly customers. Ultimately, she had to thank Yan Ningjin. Qin Xiao resolved to repay her properly. She looked up and finally noticed the strange look on Yan Ningjin’s face. “What’s wrong?”

Yan Ningjin frowned. “Did you just say Hunqiu… can speak?”

Qin Xiao did not understand why the other woman was being so serious. She nodded. “Yes, when I was talking with a young Guide earlier today, Hunqiu mimicked what we were saying.”

Tuan Tuan immediately padded over and nudged Qin Xiao’s arm with great enthusiasm.

Qin Xiao pulled the puffball from her pocket. It lay obediently in her palm, perfectly still. “Hunqiu has been acting strange lately. It seems tired and doesn’t feel like playing. Why don’t you keep it company and let it rest with you for a while?”

Tuan Tuan gave a soft whine and pawed at the sofa. He stared at the puffball with a gaze full of adoration, his tail swaying gently from side to side.

Yan Ningjin quickly composed herself. “Over the past few days, I’ve looked through every record on Quantum beasts. I haven’t found anything like Hunqiu. Most Quantum beasts appear in full animal form from birth. Yours… is different. Are you sure you want to keep calling it Hunqiu? Maybe you should consider a better name.”

At the mention of its name, the puffball twitched ever so slightly.

Qin Xiao glanced at it. “It’s got mixed colors and looks like a ball. The name suits it just fine. Right, Tuan Tuan?”

Tuan Tuan gave a low grunt at Qin Xiao and nudged the little puffball with a sympathetic nose.

Yan Ningjin also gave it a look of sympathy. “There are a few historical records of Quantum beasts that looked like this, but most hatched from hard shells. Hunqiu’s soft body is unusual.”

Qin Xiao had never mentioned that Hunqiu was originally a five-colored crystal. She knew deep down that her current Guide awakening might have something to do with swallowing that crystal. It had all happened by accident. “You said they hatched? From what kinds of animals?”

There were many egg-laying creatures, like birds and reptiles. Yan Ningjin gave her a brief overview. “I did read about a type of mutant species that could change colors. As juveniles, under light, their bodies could shift into one or two different shades. They were rare, known as color-changing beasts. The most famous among them was the chameleon. The last known record was about a hundred years ago. Since then, they’ve supposedly gone extinct. Another species was the Seven-Colored Butterfly. It could change colors freely and was incredibly deceptive…”

Qin Xiao tilted her head. “Do you think Hunqiu is a chameleon or a butterfly?”

Yan Ningjin gave her a thoughtful look. “I lean toward something like the Seven-Colored Butterfly. Your puffball can change into four or five colors. Its genetics might be even more powerful than a chameleon’s.”

Qin Xiao glanced down at the little creature nestled beside her. She recalled the five-colored ice sculpture king that had chased her across the abandoned planet. Those creatures guarded this thing with all their might. It must be even more powerful than that one.

“Hmm? What did you say?”

“Nothing.”

After Yan Ningjin’s explanations, Qin Xiao suddenly felt a renewed sense of hope in her little doughball. The fact that it could talk was already a promising start. “By the way, is there anything you want?”

Yan Ningjin blinked. “What?”

Qin Xiao bit her lip and tried to guess what Yan Ningjin might be lacking. After a moment’s thought, she realized Yan Ningjin lacked nothing. She, on the other hand, lacked everything. “Er, I mean… where can I buy energy crystals?”

Yan Ningjin looked a little disappointed but still answered patiently. “Energy crystals are not usually available for purchase. You can only get them through the black market or other channels. The quantity is strictly controlled. If you exceed a certain limit, it will draw the royal family’s attention.”

“!!!”

Seeing her dismayed expression, Yan Ningjin added quickly, “How much do you need? I’ll have Bai Xuan order some for you through the black market.”

But Qin Xiao could not rely on Yan Ningjin forever. She would have to leave her eventually. She hesitated, then asked the question that had been on her mind. “How many energy crystals require official reporting? And how many credit points would it take to buy the kind you gave me last time?”

Yan Ningjin noticed how intensely Qin Xiao was staring at her. “Anything above five hundred kilograms must be reported. As for those crystals I gave you… if sold on the black market, they would cost about fifty million credit points.”

The puffball was so startled it rolled right off the sofa. Thankfully, Tuan Tuan had been watching closely and immediately cushioned it with his head.

Qin Xiao did some quick mental math. Her expression collapsed. She flopped onto the couch like a deflated rooster. The credit points she had could barely cover even one energy crystal for her little Hunqiu.

She quickly recovered from this despair. Running a shop could keep her afloat for now, but it would never give her enough resources to restore her cultivation. She would need a tremendous amount of energy crystals. Maybe a hundred rounds like the last time…

And that was only if she were alone. Now she had a burden to feed too.

Qin Xiao gave Hunqiu a mournful glance. The puffball promptly rolled into Tuan Tuan’s fur, trying its best to disappear.

Yan Ningjin noticed the way her Guide’s face broadcasted every emotion. She cleared her throat. “Let’s get started on the trial marriage ceremony. Most of the guests will bring gifts.”

But Qin Xiao was already thinking long-term. A few gifts would not solve her problems. She had used Yan Ningjin as a shield. She could not take her gifts too. What she needed was a sustainable plan. No, she needed a plan that made real money.

Yan Ningjin had a rough idea what was bothering her. But once something had been said, it could not be taken back. After some thought, she blurted, “If you tell me how many energy crystals you want, I can give them to you.”

Qin Xiao gave her a grateful look but shook her head. “Earlier, you mentioned your mining star. How did you get it?”

Yan Ningjin had joined the military in her teens. She earned merit in her twenties and was awarded a small energy-rich mining planet by the emperor. Only after visiting it did she realize how profitable it was. “His Majesty granted it to me.”

Qin Xiao’s eyes lit up. “Can I join the military?”

Yan Ningjin: !!!

She did not want to crush her Guide’s hopes, but she still shook her head. “Guides cannot join the military. The only exception is military doctors, and even then, they must pass rigorous screening and Academy approval.”

In other words, Qin Xiao, an untrained and unschooled wild-card Guide, had no chance.

Qin Xiao scowled at her. “Hunqiu, we’re going upstairs to sleep.”

Yan Ningjin: …

Her little Guide was clearly angry. Very angry.

The next day, Yan Ningjin realized her Guide was still angry, and she remained stubbornly so. Normally, she allowed her to be dropped off at Aige Street. Today, she refused with a frosty face.

Having no experience in coaxing Guides, Yan Ningjin had no choice but to follow her secretly in Aiwei’er, tailing the public maglev train until she was sure Qin Xiao reached her destination safely. Only then did she return to the military base.

Qin Xiao wasn’t truly angry at Yan Ningjin. She was angry at this frustratingly weak body. She was even more furious at the unfair world that restricted Guides so harshly.

Yu Jing arrived to find Qin Xiao propping her chin up, looking bitter. “What’s wrong?”

Qin Xiao glanced at her. “Xiao Yu, is there any way to quickly acquire a large batch of energy crystals?”

Yu Jing, who had her own mech, knew what energy crystals were used for. She thought for a moment. “You could buy a small mining star and develop it yourself. Or sign a long-term deal with companies on Capital Star that specialize in that business. But why do you need so many energy crystals?”

Qin Xiao realized that none of these methods would get her what she needed quickly. Unless she… stole them.

If Yu Jing had known what crossed her mind just then, she probably would have dropped her jaw in shock.

But the thought passed quickly. She knew that stealing would pit her against Yan Ningjin and Princess Yuzhu. Even if she regained her cultivation one day, that would be a hard situation to explain.

“How much would it cost to buy a small planet?”

Yu Jing did not know the precise logistics of Capital Star’s operations. “It depends on the size. Some go for tens of millions, others for over a billion credit points, and discovering usable energy on the planet is a matter of luck. Many people regret their purchase later. What do you need so many crystals for, anyway?”

Qin Xiao understood the risk. “I need them. That’s all. Forget it, you wouldn’t understand.”

Yu Jing nearly choked on that answer.

When Cloud Pavilion opened for the day, the crowds quickly arrived. Most of the Sentinels still came from the First Military Division. They had been ordered to show up. Few spoke. They queued, entered one by one, had their mania cleared by Qin Xiao, paid, and left.

At first, Qin Xiao had been excited, her heart ignited with hope. Each day, she counted her credit points over and over. But after learning how expensive energy crystals truly were, that hope popped like a rising bubble.

At this rate, even saving for a full year might only earn enough to buy one or two doses of energy crystals. Restoring her cultivation? That dream would take far too long.

Moreover, her trial marriage with Yan Ningjin would last at most two years. Once those two years passed…

Qin Xiao could only think about energy crystals. Her mind echoed with the words over and over again: energy crystals, energy crystals. This restless mood even affected Hunqiu. For once, the little creature behaved, lying quietly beside her without moving. Every now and then, it would change colors, ranging from a melancholy blue to a faint green, then a pale violet, as if it were adjusting Qin Xiao’s emotions for her.

“Madam, Miss Mo Hui is here.”

“Bring her in directly.”

Yu Jing hesitated, then explained honestly, “She looks very anxious and asked you to come out.”

Qin Xiao had no choice. She scooped up the little puffball and stuffed it into her pocket before heading outside. As expected, she saw Mo Hui pacing restlessly in front of Cloud Pavilion. Her own round little puffball also crawled anxiously nearby. “What’s wrong?”

The moment Mo Hui saw Qin Xiao, it was as if she had found her anchor. “He won’t see me. I went looking for him, but they told me he wasn’t there.”

Qin Xiao thought to herself, What good is a Sentinel who won’t act decisively? “Then wait.”

Mo Hui puffed up her cheeks. “I don’t want to wait. Come with me to look for him, please?”

Qin Xiao: …

Mo Hui gave her a pitiful look, then whispered her real concern. “There are so many people watching me while I wait outside. I feel scared.”

Qin Xiao was already developing a mild case of depression just from being around Guides like this. If you’re scared, why did you even come out here?

“They aren’t going to eat you. What are you afraid of? Come on, I’ll wait with you.”

Mo Hui immediately lit up with a smile that could rival a nation’s downfall.

Qin Xiao quietly observed her expression and thought, Honestly, some of those Sentinels probably do want to devour this timid little Guide. If it weren’t for the other Sentinel’s pheromones lingering on her…

“From now on, make sure someone accompanies you when you go out. It’s best not to be alone. It’s dangerous out there.”

“Okay, okay.”

Mo Hui clearly trusted Qin Xiao deeply. She even tugged gently on the hem of Qin Xiao’s clothes, while her puffball kept pace at her feet. Qin Xiao simply tossed Hunqiu onto the other puffball so the two could play together.

Mo Hui looked at Hunqiu enviously. “Doctor, your Quantum beast is amazing. It can even talk. I’ve never seen a talking Quantum beast in my life.”

Qin Xiao suddenly realized that most Quantum beasts truly could not speak. They usually just made animalistic noises. She glanced at the little puffball sitting proudly atop the other beast’s head. Hunqiu looked extremely smug.

Mo Hui reached out and gently touched Hunqiu. To Qin Xiao’s surprise, it didn’t resist. It sat still and allowed itself to be petted.

“So soft.”

Qin Xiao thought for a moment, then gave a reminder. “Mo Hui, don’t tell anyone that Hunqiu can speak.”

Mo Hui stroked it again without thinking, confused. “Why not?”

Qin Xiao frowned slightly. “Others might see it as a freak. If that happens, no other Quantum beasts will want to play with Hunqiu. You should understand.”

Mo Hui did understand. Her extraordinary beauty had isolated her for years. Even at the Guide Academy, she had been excluded by most. Her friends were few and far between. “Qiu Qiu really likes playing with Hunqiu and is jealous that it can talk. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.”

Qin Xiao added, “Not even your family. As for your Sentinel, if you two truly bond one day, he’ll know even if you don’t say it.”

Mo Hui immediately panicked. “What should I do, then?”

Qin Xiao gave her a look. “Then keep it a secret until you two bond.”

Mo Hui brought Qin Xiao to the entrance of the military academy. The place bustled with Sentinels, civilians, and all kinds of onlookers. Qin Xiao finally understood why Mo Hui felt so frightened. Especially since she was such a timid Guide.

But what surprised her more was that Mo Hui’s Sentinel was actually inside this academy.

“Don’t tell me your Sentinel is one of the instructors here?”

Mo Hui shook her head. “He was specially invited to serve as a guest coach. He doesn’t usually work here.”

Qin Xiao understood then. Mo Hui’s Sentinel was also a soldier. The two of them stood at the gates for several minutes. In that short time, they drew a great deal of attention. Mo Hui instinctively moved closer to Qin Xiao, who sighed and muttered, “Waiting like this won’t work. If you know where he is, let’s go find him.”

Mo Hui didn’t have the courage. Most of the people inside were Sentinels, and Guides rarely came alone unless they were already married. She had never dared do something so bold. “Let’s just wait outside.”

But Qin Xiao wasn’t the type to sit and wait. She grabbed Mo Hui and pulled her into the academy, drawing even more attention. “What’s your Sentinel’s name?”

Mo Hui clung to her back and whispered nervously, “Doctor, there are too many people. Let’s wait outside.”

Qin Xiao’s face was cold. “Tell me your Sentinel’s name.”

“Liu Ze.”

Qin Xiao casually grabbed a passerby. “Where’s Instructor Liu Ze?”

The person looked completely bewildered at being grabbed by a Guide. It took him a few moments to respond. “Liu Ze? He should be at the training grounds. I think.”

Qin Xiao asked where the training grounds were, then marched off with Mo Hui in tow. More and more people gathered to watch. Qin Xiao glared at them. “What are you all staring at?”

That glare was enough to scare off some of the crowd.

The academy was huge. Qin Xiao dragged Mo Hui through more than half of it before finally locating the training grounds. Sure enough, they spotted Liu Ze just as he was preparing to leave.

“Hui Hui.”

“Liu Ze, Liu Ze.”

Before Qin Xiao could say a word, she heard an excited voice nearby. She turned and saw a tall man, even taller than Yan Ningjin, striding toward them with strong, steady steps. Despite the serious expression on his face, he looked genuinely pleased.

“He looks decent.”

“Right? I think so too.”

Qin Xiao looked at Mo Hui’s lovestruck face and didn’t know what to say. They’re not even married yet, and she’s already this eager.

“There you go. I’ve found your man. Go on.”

The puffball on Qiu Qiu’s head bounced a few times, then used the other beast like a springboard to leap into Qin Xiao’s pocket.

Qin Xiao patted her pocket. “I’m heading out now.”

Mo Hui waved excitedly and ran over to Liu Ze without hesitation.

Even after Qin Xiao walked far away, she could still hear them talking.

“Who’s that—”

Mo Hui replied, “That’s… my friend.”

Liu Ze asked, “She’s a Guide. Is it safe for her to walk back alone? Should I send someone with her?”

Mo Hui froze for a second, then ran to catch up. “Qin Xiao, wait up.”

Liu Ze remained where he was, smiling. “Hui Hui, I have a few things to take care of. Why don’t you take your friend to my office and wait there? I’ll be along shortly.”

…

Qin Xiao was utterly defeated by this couple’s clinginess. Mo Hui tugged her along to Liu Ze’s office, which was not far from the training grounds. She agreed to wait there for a bit.

But the moment she entered, Qin Xiao sensed a stranger’s pheromones in the air. It made her deeply uncomfortable. She only stayed a few minutes before leaving the office.

Mo Hui liked the place, especially since there was no trace of any other Guide’s scent. It gave her a rare sense of comfort. But seeing Qin Xiao waiting outside made her follow quickly. She asked nervously, “Doctor, do you think he’ll go home with me today?”

Qin Xiao rolled her eyes. “Simple. If he doesn’t want to go home, you stay here with him. He won’t dare refuse then.”

Mo Hui nodded enthusiastically. “Exactly. That’s what I’ll do.”

They waited another half hour. As the sky began to darken, Qin Xiao said, “Why don’t you wait here, and I’ll head back first? Yan Ningjin already messaged me asking where I am.”

Mo Hui said, “It’s safer if the General picks you up.”

Qin Xiao thought the distance was not far. “What’s there to be afraid of?”

Mo Hui tried to persuade her for a long time, but failed. She settled for accompanying her part of the way. “Let me walk with you to the training grounds. Then I’ll wait for Liu Ze there.”

Qin Xiao was helpless in the face of this delicate, dainty Guide. “Fine, let’s go.”

They reached the training grounds quickly. Dusk had already settled over the campus. Qin Xiao waved without looking back. She had only walked a short distance when she noticed something wrong.

There were too many people around, so she had not been paying close attention. But suddenly, she was surrounded. Two Sentinels approached from either side. A Guide came straight at her. The three of them formed a triangle and blocked her in. Qin Xiao spun around. “Why are you following me?”

The Guide stepped forward. “Aya, Eva misses you dearly.”

Qin Xiao’s pupils shrank sharply. She recognized this face. It was another Guide from the rogue organization, someone who used to treat Aya with care. The two Sentinels also seemed familiar. Qin Xiao’s mind pieced together the fragments of memory.

Her mental cloud lashed out at the three of them. No one expected such a sudden attack. The two Sentinels were instantly on the verge of mania.

“Watch out! She’ll attack!”

“Aya!”

Just as Qin Xiao was about to strike again, her mental power was enveloped by a soft force. She had lost her chance. “Hunqiu.”

The little puffball sprang from her pocket and crashed into the snow-white ferret.

That ferret had never encountered such a fierce Quantum beast before. Caught off guard, it tumbled backward, dazed and dizzy.

The two Sentinels grabbed Qin Xiao from both sides. Their strong hands clamped down on her arms, pinning her in place. “Aya, come with us quietly. Don’t make us use force.”

Mo Hui had heard the sounds of fighting and rushed over. She saw Qin Xiao restrained by the two men. The little puffball was wrapped in the ferret’s tail. Trembling, Mo Hui mustered all her courage and cried, “Who are you? Let go of the doctor!”

Qin Xiao rolled her eyes and shouted, “Run!”

The Guide who had been hit slowly stood up. “She’s seen us. Take her too.”